Using the DXCC programme to better contesting skills

I consider myself a both a Contester and a DXer. I started DXing the day I received my license with 15 years of age,
the 31st of August 1981, and in the first day as an amateur radio operator I worked my first DX - Rwanda 9X5MH on 15 meters.

Eleven years
and five months later, on the 26th of January 1993 I worked AH1A and reached DXCC #1 - all entities worked. One can say those were the true DXing
days, without Internet or packet, I had to search and pouce up and down the bands looking for new ones.

Being a DX'er is a great asset for a contester, particualrly for SO2R operators. All the experience gathered throughout the years is a great tool to
know what to do with the second radio and keep those "juicy" multipliers coming.

Although I had already worked all current entities I never bother
to send my cards to DXCC Desk. First I decided to send my cards only upon reaching Honor Roll. When that target was achieved I decided to submit
my cards only upon working all entities, and when I reached that I started to be scared about sending the QSL cards via the mail.
I couldn't imagine loosing all the cards in the mail.Only thirteen years later In February 2006 I finally decided to send all my cards via UPS
and got all my entities awarded - from zero to DXCC #1 (335 current entities at the time).